Ricoh GXR
Encyclopedia
The Ricoh GXR is a compact digital camera
first announced by Ricoh Company, Ltd
, Tokyo
on November 10, 2009. Unlike conventional cameras which either have a fixed lens
and sensor
or interchangeable lens and a fixed sensor, the GXR takes interchangeable units, each housing a lens, sensor and image processing engine
. This allows each unit to have these features optimised to one another and a specific task, where as with conventional interchangeable lens cameras each different lens must use the same sensor and engine. The sealed units also prevent dust from reaching the sensor which can be a problem with other cameras where the sensor is exposed whilst a lens is being changed. A significant disadvantage of this system is the extra cost involved in having to buy a whole new sensor with every new lens.
The body holds a built in pop-up flash as well as a hot shoe
on top for an external flash unit. Alternatively Ricoh's 'VF-2', an external electronic viewfinder can be attached to the to the hot shoe which offers 920,000 dots and 100% field of view. The separate units slide onto the body via a stainless steel rail and lock into place. They can then be released by a lever on the camera's body. Both the body and lens unit use magnesium alloy exterior. Each lens unit has its own unique specifications relating to its sensor and optics meaning that different lens units will change the features, behavior and performance of the camera body to varying degrees when attached.
GR LENS A12 50mm F2.5 MACRO
RICOH LENS S10 24-72mm F2.5-4.4 VC
GR LENS A12 28mm F2.5
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
first announced by Ricoh Company, Ltd
Ricoh
or Ricoh, is a Japanese company that was established in 1936 on February 6th, as , a company in the RIKEN zaibatsu. Its headquarters is located in Ricoh Building in Chūō, Tokyo....
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
on November 10, 2009. Unlike conventional cameras which either have a fixed lens
Lens (optics)
A lens is an optical device with perfect or approximate axial symmetry which transmits and refracts light, converging or diverging the beam. A simple lens consists of a single optical element...
and sensor
Image sensor
An image sensor is a device that converts an optical image into an electronic signal. It is used mostly in digital cameras and other imaging devices...
or interchangeable lens and a fixed sensor, the GXR takes interchangeable units, each housing a lens, sensor and image processing engine
Image processing engine
The image processing engine, or image processor, is an important component of a digital camera. The digital image processing engine can perform a range of tasks.- Bayer transformation :...
. This allows each unit to have these features optimised to one another and a specific task, where as with conventional interchangeable lens cameras each different lens must use the same sensor and engine. The sealed units also prevent dust from reaching the sensor which can be a problem with other cameras where the sensor is exposed whilst a lens is being changed. A significant disadvantage of this system is the extra cost involved in having to buy a whole new sensor with every new lens.
The body holds a built in pop-up flash as well as a hot shoe
Hot shoe
A hot shoe is a mounting point on the top of a camera to attach a flash unit.- Design :The hot shoe is shaped somewhat like an inverted, squared-off "U" of metal. The matching adapter on the bottom of the flash unit slides in from the back of the camera and is sometimes secured by a clamping screw...
on top for an external flash unit. Alternatively Ricoh's 'VF-2', an external electronic viewfinder can be attached to the to the hot shoe which offers 920,000 dots and 100% field of view. The separate units slide onto the body via a stainless steel rail and lock into place. They can then be released by a lever on the camera's body. Both the body and lens unit use magnesium alloy exterior. Each lens unit has its own unique specifications relating to its sensor and optics meaning that different lens units will change the features, behavior and performance of the camera body to varying degrees when attached.
Camera units
RICOH LENS P10 28-300mm F3.5-5.6 VC- 10.6 megapixel, 1/2.3" CMOS sensor
- 28-300 mm (expressed as 35 mm equivalent) 3.5-5.6 VC lens
- GR engine "Smooth Imaging Engine IV"
- Manual and auto focus
- Movie mode up to 1280 x 720 at 30 frames per second
GR LENS A12 50mm F2.5 MACRO
- 12.30 megapixel, APS-CAPS-CAdvanced Photo System type-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System "classic" size negatives...
sized (23.6×15.7 mm) CMOS sensor - 50 mm (expressed as 35 mm equivalent) GR lens
- GR engine III
- Manual and auto focus
RICOH LENS S10 24-72mm F2.5-4.4 VC
- 10 megapixel, 1/1.7" CCDCharge-coupled deviceA charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
Sensor - 24-72 mm (expressed as 35 mm equivalent) , 3× Ricoh zoom lens
- Smooth Imaging engine IV
GR LENS A12 28mm F2.5
- 12.30 megapixel, APS-CAPS-CAdvanced Photo System type-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System "classic" size negatives...
sized (23.6×15.7 mm) CMOS sensor - 28 mm (expressed as 35 mm equivalent) GR lens
- GR engine III
- Manual and auto focus
Lens mount units
GR MOUNT A12- Leica M mountLeica M mountThe Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
- 12.30 megapixel, APS-CAPS-CAdvanced Photo System type-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System "classic" size negatives...
sized (23.6×15.7 mm) CMOS sensor
External links
- http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/gxr/
- http://ricoh-gxr.blogspot.com/ (samples photos)
- http://ricoh-28mm.blogspot.com/ (review - full size samples)